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It's time for downtrodden Raptors fans to have some fun

A bit too much sleep and missed a bunch of important stuff overnight but even though we’re late, let’s do the little Friday stuff before I get on with an awful lot of tying.

(Oh, and I’m late because I lost the little security token thing that allows me remote access to our system to post this; quick pre-practice trip to Mother Star and since I can’t get it replaced until Monday, the usual morning fare will be late tomorrow, Sunday and Monday, too. I are a dope)

And one thing that struck me when I was chatting with Oak and Alvin, Mo and Vince, Jose and Muggsy and my man Rasho electronically is this:

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The playoff moments never go away.

And I hope the kids on this version of the HOTH remember that. And I hope the fans of this version of the HOTH remember that, too.

I know the fans have been starved for success for many a year – trust me, I know that very, very, very well – and now that the team has had some, it’s time to enjoy it.

I am sure that there will be some angst when they lose a game and there will angst during every game – “How could he take that shot?” or “Why didn’t Dwane take a timeout?” or “How the hell can he leave Landry Fields stuck to the bench?” – but over-riding thing for this time of year has to be fun.

It’s been a total out-of-nowhere season, wins and good games and a team I think people can truly like, it’s time to sit back, cheer and enjoy it.

A special time. Have fun. Because a lot of people will be watching. For all the various reasons – Toronto’s return to the post-season, the Nets finagling their way in this matchup, the boring other series – this is, I’d say, the most anticipated first-round matchup in the East. By far.

And this comes from a conference call ESPN did yesterday, with Jeff Van Gundy talking about Toronto, homecourt advantage and the series:

“Well, I'll tell you this, and I haven't been back since I haven't coached, but I was always so impressed with the home court advantage in Toronto. Their arena is great. The fans were passionate. I'm sure the losing the past few years has sort of dulled that, but I'm sure it's back to where it should be and they're all excited about the playoffs.

“But great players aren't really impacted by crowds and arenas. The only thing that can impact them is great competitors and great players on the other team, and I think DeRozan and Lowry and Ross and those guys are going to have a great opportunity to show against some great veteran players, some champions, some who have gone deep into the Playoffs, that they have what it takes to advance, and I'm excited for that series. I really am.”

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Hey, Happy Easter!

(Everybody got their bonnets? Or are they Raptors toques for the weekend?)

I hear it’s Good Friday or something?

Gotta find me some chocolate, I guess, to store around the house for the weekend.

And there is one incontrovertible truth that I would hope all of you with young kids drive home incessantly:

They have to be solid chocolate bunnies and you must – MUST – eat the ears first.

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So some of you’ve asked about additional media for a playoff series?

Well, not sure what the full numbers are but I know each of the Toronto papers will have anywhere from two to six at tomorrow’s game and I’ve been told there are 13 or 14 writers coming from Brooklyn. Toss in dozens of TV and radio types and we’re looking at a circus, for sure.

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Quick question, multiple choice:

Most disappointing “major” acquisition by a Toronto sports team of the recent era:

Hedo Turkoglu?

R.A. Dickey?

Tough one, isn’t it?

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There aren’t a lot of them to consider but here’s a personal list of the five best Raptors playoff games ever, and I’ve written about every one of them so there’s some context to it:

Game 7 vs. Philadelphia

This one’s so far ahead it’s not even close.

The graduation, what was at stake, Oak-Tyrone Hill, the shot, the drama. It’s not even close.

I know it was the most important win of all time but the Garden seats were so bad you could barely enjoy it up close. Plus it was a late, deadline-hard evening.

Game 6 at New Jersey

The anticipation of what would have been a Game 7 at the Air Canada Centre on a Sunday afternoon with the basketball world watching was amazing. Too bad it never came off.

What have you got?

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The morning is going to be largely spent trying to figure out who has what advantage where in this series and breaking it down before making some bold prediction.

But if you’re looking for who’ll win the other seven, it’s here in Nothing But Net from yesterday and, because I always like to hear from so many of you, this is another plea for weekend mail (I have a feeling it’ll have to be an extra file at some point given all the actual basketball we have to deal with). Go to
askdoug@thestar.ca
with anything you’ve got other than requests for tickets; got none of those. Still want to hear from you, though.

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